Remarks to the press by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia following UNSC meeting on the acts of sabotage at the Nord Stream pipeline
Q: Are you satisfied with the answer of the United States to your question?
A: You heard my statement, where I was just asking questions. We are not a court to decide who is to blame. Besides, there has been no investigation yet. But whatever investigation would be conducted, it by definition cannot happen if Russia is absent from it, because Russia is the owner of the pipe and the most interested party. If someone thinks they can investigate while excluding Russia, we will have reasons to doubt objectivity of such investigation.
Q: Will you try to fix this [leak in the Nord Stream pipes] if it can be fixed?
A: I think the representative of Gazprom said clearly that first we have to estimate the damage and understand what happened. To do that, you obviously need access to the area [of the incident] and the actual place of explosion. Then you need to study the damage and see what can be done. But of course, this is not going to be easy to repair.
Q: Who is supposed to do the investigation and how?
A: A good question. Obviously, Denmark and Sweden as the countries in whose territorial waters this act of sabotage took place. Then it must be Russia as the owner of the pipeline and maybe the most interested side. And also Germany as the main beneficiary of these pipelines.
Q: Should it be an investigation under the United Nations framework?
A: No, I do not think the United Nations has anything to do with it.
